Photo:(C)AFLO SPORT/bj-league
The first Japanese Professional Basketball League (bj-league) was inaugurated in November, 2005 with 6 teams (Sendai 89ERS, Niigata Albirex BB, Saitama Broncos, Tokyo Apache, Osaka Evessa, and Oita Heat Devils) participated in the 120 games in total during the regular season. At the end, Osaka became the first champion of the season.
For the Second season, The Toyama Grouses and the Takamatsu Five Arrows joined the league. In this season, Osaka won the finals for the second straight year.
For the third season, "bj-league" welcomed to more expansion team, Rizing Fukuoka and Ryukyu Golden Kings. "bj-league" will stage exciting games over the season!
Read English news about the bj-league in The Japan Times. Visit this link for up-to-date coverage;
-The number of players whom one team can sign is no more than 15, regardless of their nationalities.
-No more than three (3) non-Asian players can enter the game at the same time.
-No more than four (4) non-Japanese players can enter the game at the same time.
Consequently, at least one player with Japanese nationality must stay on the court during the game.
During the regular season(2008-2009), each team plays 52 games in total (26games home/away). bj-league regular season starts on October 11, 2008.
The bj-League Playoffs begin in May, with four teams in each conference qualifying. Each conference's top four seeds are determined by regular season record. In each of the Conference Semi-Finals, the first seed plays fourth seed, and second seed plays third seed. Two games are played at the better seed's home court (*1) The winner will advance to "The Final 4." (*2)
*1: When the Conference Semi-Final series is split, the decisive third game will be played after the end of the second game. Rules and other details are to be announced.
*2: "The Final 4" will be held at one location, and all games are played in the same arena one after another by single-elimination format. More details are to be announced.
All Star Game is scheduled for January 2009. 10 players of the each conf will be selected to play in the bj-league all star game.
[ bj-league Open Tryouts ]
bj-league provides a great opportunity to become a professional basketball player. The tryout is proceeded step by step.
[ bj-league Draft Conference ]
Player Draft is held in early summer.
4-10-1 shiba minato-ku, Tokyo 108-0014
Phone: +81-3-3798-8881
Fax: +81-3-3798-8887
E-mail: bjinquiry@bj-league.com
March 24th, 2005
Ikuo Kimura, Chairman & CEO
Toshimitsu Kawachi, Commissioner
Hidemitsu Nakano, President & COO
Hiromu Ikeda, League Advisor
